ác thần
Definition
- Noun:
- Evil spirit / malevolent deity: A supernatural being, often a deity, spirit, or genius, that is inherently wicked, harmful, or brings misfortune. This term carries an archaic or literary tone.
- Malignant genius: A personification of evil or destructive supernatural force.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Trong truyền thuyết, ác thần luôn tìm cách phá hoại mùa màng. (In the legend, the evil spirit always seeks to destroy the crops.)
- Ngôi đền đó được xây để trấn áp một ác thần. (That temple was built to suppress a malevolent deity.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "ác thần" is often used in mythological, folkloric, or religious contexts to contrast with benevolent spirits ("thiện thần"). It can represent the personification of natural disasters, diseases, or moral corruption.
Variants and Related Words
- Hung thần (n): a fierce or ferocious deity/spirit; often implies a terrifying nature.
- Yêu ma (n): demon, fiend, evil apparition; a more general term for evil supernatural creatures.
- Quỷ dữ (n): devil, fierce demon.
Synonyms
- Evil spirit
- Malevolent deity
- Malignant genius
- Demon (in some contexts)
Related Idioms
- While "ác thần" itself is not commonly part of modern idioms, it relates to the conceptual pair:
- "Thiện thần ác thần": (The) good spirits and evil spirits; representing the eternal struggle between benevolent and malevolent supernatural forces.
- Câu chuyện xoay quanh cuộc chiến giữa thiện thần và ác thần. (The story revolves around the war between good spirits and evil spirits.)